Machado will play 3B for the Nationals in 2019, with Rendon sliding over to 2B.

You don't move Rendon to second until he no longer can play third. It would be a huge waste of talent. He is a superb third baseman. He is nothing special at second. So can we just forget about Machado? Unless you have some idea of what to with Turner in case we want Machado to play short.

I didn't want to muck up the manager thread with player stuff, so here are my current thoughts on Jake Arrieta.

The Nats need at one more starter for next season. Gio's contract is up after 2018. Ross won't be back until 2019. Fedde still needs seasoning in the minors. That leaves the door open for a FA pitcher this offseason.

Sorting for 160 IP and FA, the top guys basically come down to Darvish, Tanaka, and Arrieta. The next tier is Cobb, Chacin, Cashner, Vargas, and Lynn. Vargas and Cashner jump out as shaky signings because of their injury history. Cobb has the upside, but also comes with his own baggage. That leaves Chacin and Lynn, both very interesting and both likely to get nabbed by a mid market team early, at least I suspect.

Darvish and Tanaka might switch teams, but there will likely be many bidders. Arrieta, as a Boras client, will try and get the Strasburg deal, positioned as a top tier starter. No one will bite, and somehow, someway, Boras comes knocking on old man Lerner's door, and tells him that the pitching void he has can be solved with Arrieta. Boras sings the praises of the marketability of Arrieta, and in late January, Jake Arrieta becomes the number three behind Scherzer and Strasburg, slotting above Gio and Roark.

I wonder what trade candidates there could be, as that road has worked before, but I'm not sure what players could be had. Maybe Samardzija (contract) or Gerrit Cole (cost in arb to Pirates) or possibly Clayton Richard but anyone else is likely worse than what is on the market and can be had without giving up any prospects.

I didn't want to muck up the manager thread with player stuff, so here are my current thoughts on Jake Arrieta.

The Nats need at one more starter for next season. Gio's contract is up after 2018. Ross won't be back until 2019. Fedde still needs seasoning in the minors. That leaves the door open for a FA pitcher this offseason.

Sorting for 160 IP and FA, the top guys basically come down to Darvish, Tanaka, and Arrieta. The next tier is Cobb, Chacin, Cashner, Vargas, and Lynn. Vargas and Cashner jump out as shaky signings because of their injury history. Cobb has the upside, but also comes with his own baggage. That leaves Chacin and Lynn, both very interesting and both likely to get nabbed by a mid market team early, at least I suspect.

Darvish and Tanaka might switch teams, but there will likely be many bidders. Arrieta, as a Boras client, will try and get the Strasburg deal, positioned as a top tier starter. No one will bite, and somehow, someway, Boras comes knocking on old man Lerner's door, and tells him that the pitching void he has can be solved with Arrieta. Boras sings the praises of the marketability of Arrieta, and in late January, Jake Arrieta becomes the number three behind Scherzer and Strasburg, slotting above Gio and Roark.

I wonder what trade candidates there could be, as that road has worked before, but I'm not sure what players could be had. Maybe Samardzija (contract) or Gerrit Cole (cost in arb to Pirates) or possibly Clayton Richard but anyone else is likely worse than what is on the market and can be had without giving up any prospects.

Lynn also has an injury history, including Tommy John. I think Cobb is the way to go out of that list, just because he's a bit better. Arrieta will get a heck of a deal - he is much less of an injury risk than Darvish or Tanaka, and he has relatively few miles on his arm for his age because Baltimore couldn't figure out what to do with him. I expect he'll get at least as much money as Strasburg.

I am of the belief we need another top-end starter to get over the hump finally in 2018. I don't think we need to add much of anything to win the NL East again. However, as many have said, Gio can't be trusted in the postseason. I also suspect he's much closer to the 2015 and 2016 Gio in 2018 than the 2017 numbers he put up. I don't expect to be able to add another #1 in the mold of Max and Stras, but we need somebody who you feel good about pitching in a postseason series. Roark hasn't really had a fair shot at that role, but I'd much rather him stay in his slot as the 4th starter we may or may not use in the postseason.

To me, that is the top priority and first order of business, other than perhaps trying to extend Harper. Beyond that, it's minor tweaks. Looking into an upgrade at catcher, although I don't think that would be nearly as helpful as adding another top-end SP. Rounding out the bench and bullpen and perhaps adding SP depth to compete for the #5 spot come last.

I disagree 100%. Top end arms mean nothing if a team can't drive in runs.

Look at the Dodgers. They have 1 legit ace but a lights out pen and a lineup full of clutch hitters.